I’lam Strongly Condemns the Killing of Journalists and Targeting of the Media in Gaza and Demands that the Israeli Military Advocate General Investigate
- I’lam: Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel condemns the Israeli military operation in Gaza and mourns the loss of innocent lives, including journalists
- I’lam demands the immediate halt of all persecution and assaults on journalists and media institutions in Gaza, the West Bank and inside Israel after the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that started on Wednesday, November 14. I’lam calls on the international community to work for the protection of journalists in all regions of Israel/Palestine.
- I’lam calls on fellow journalists in the Israeli media to commit to professional standards by taking an impartial position instead of devotedly echoing the official military statements.
With the start of the latest Israeli military offensive on Gaza that began last Wednesday, November 14, several cases of attacks on journalists and media professionals were recorded.
On November 14, the house of the BBC journalist, Jihad Mashharawi, was targeted with a direct hit, killing his 11 months old son and his sister in law.
Last Friday, the house of Ali Ibrahim, a European Agency photographer, was targeted, wounding his father, his sister and her daughter (8 years). On the same day, Israeli forces targeted the headquarters of the Free Media association in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza, which caused severe damages to the bilding.
On Sunday, Israeli warplanes shelled the Shawa – Hosry Towers in Gaza. These buildings are known to be a media center that contains a number of press offices (including Al-Arabiya and Russia Today). Three rockets led to a direct hit to the sixth floor, injuring 6 journalists, the majority working for Al-Quds TV, in addition to causing severe damage to the building.
The most devastating attack on journalists was the killing of two cameramen from Al-Aqsa TV, Mohamed al-Kaoumi and Hossam Salameh, and executive director of Al-Quds Educational Radio, Mohammed Moussa Abu Eisah, as Israeli warplanes shelled their cars in two separate incidents on Tuesday.
Following the killing of journalists, on November 21 I’lam demanded from the Israeli Military Advocate General that an investigation be opened into these deaths, asserting that Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions provides that journalists are entitled to all rights and protections granted to civilians in international armed conflicts. The same holds true in non-international armed conflicts by virtue of customary international law.
Father's grief: BBC journalist Jihad Masharawi weeps while he holds the body of his 11-month old son Omar, at Shifa hospital
The offices of several news websites were also targeted by the Israeli attack, such as SAFA and Palestine Today. A statement issued by the Israeli army claimed that it succeeded to terminate what they called “the Palestinian propaganda”. In is noteworthy to metion that these websites are independent and professional news websites that don’t represent any formal parties.
In recent days, attacks on journalists were also recorded in the West Bank, as jounalists were attacked while covering the protests against the military operation in Gaza. Mahfouz Abu Turk of the French News Agency was hit in the neck by a rubber bullet. A journalist from Radio FM was beaten by a soldier.
Parallel to attacks on journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, journalists reporting from inside Israel were subject to severe harassment by an Israeli activist group calling itself "Tatspit" (the monitor) volunteered to monitor the Arab media.
I’lam expresses deep concern over the escalation in targeting journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank during this latest military offensive, where the Israeli army has admitted to targeting journalists, and which has severely hampered local and international news agencies from freely operating. I’lam calls on the international community, and particularly the parties committed to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to bring pressure to halt the abuses against the Palestinian people in general and journalists in particular.
I’lam is also very concerned by the coverage of Israeli media venues that have tended to reiterate government propaganda for the war, sidestepping their commitment to professional and ethical journalistic standards.
It is important to remember in this context that during Israel’s Cast Lead Operation of 2008-2009, 4 reporters in the Gaza Strip were killed.
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